Transcript National Association of Friendship Centres National Programs

National Association of
Friendship Centres
National Programs
NAFC National Programs
Aboriginal Friendship Centre Program
(AFCP)
 Program administration was transferred
from DCH to the NAFC in March 1996
 Delivers core-funding for basic staff and
operations to 99 Friendship Centres and 7
Provincial/Territorial Associations
NAFC National Programs
Urban Multi Purpose Aboriginal Youth
Centres Initiative (UMAYC)
 Designed to provide urban Aboriginal
youth with a wide range of culturally
based programs, services and activities
 Projects are locally controlled and
designed in conjunction with Aboriginal
youth
NAFC National Programs
UMAYC
 Structured in a manner that will empower
Aboriginal youth to address the
challenges they face and determine their
own future in a safe and culturally relevant
environment
 Primary goal of UMAYC is to create a
network of urban Aboriginal youth centres
to support and assist Aboriginal youth in
enhancing their economic, social and
personal prospects
NAFC National Programs
Young Canada Works
Young Canada Works for
Aboriginal Urban Youth
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One of four components of the
Government of Canada’s Young Canada
Works Program
 Funded annually for $1.5 million, YCW for
Aboriginal Urban Youth creates over 300
summer positions for urban Aboriginal
youth in Friendship Centres and
Provincial/Territorial Associations across
Canada
Young Canada Works for
Aboriginal Urban Youth
The objectives of the Young Canada Works
for Aboriginal Youth program are;
 To provide hans-on work experience in the
culturally supportive milieu of the
Aboriginal Friendship Centres and their
affiliates
 To provide Aboriginal youth with earnings
to assist them in financing their education
Young Canada Works for
Aboriginal Urban Youth
Objectives
 Promote the employability of Aboriginal
youth
 Encourage understanding and
appreciation of Canada’s achievements
 Build connections among Canadians, and
 Build connections to Canada’s diverse
places
Young Canada Works for
Aboriginal Urban Youth
Youth employed assist in the delivery of programs
to the community focusing on youth-related
activities such as;
 Recreation
 Special events
 Cultural activities
 Drop-in centres
 Outreach programs
 Peer counselling
 Health programs
 Exchanges
 Children’s programs
Young Canada Works for
Aboriginal Urban Youth
Period of employment is from May 1
to September 15
 30 - 40 hours per week
 6 to 16 weeks in length
 Wages reflect the level of education
attained by the participants, but are
not below the minimum wage of the
province or territory
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Young Canada Works for
Aboriginal Urban Youth
Benefits to Employers, Employees and
Participants
 Students gain valuable work
experience and money to pursue
their education
 Work experience can influence their
future career plans
Young Canada Works for
Aboriginal Urban Youth
Benefits
 Friendship Centres benefit from the
capacity that is brought to their
organization by the availability of a
program which provides funding for
positions
 Participants in projects are given access
to culturally relevant activities in their
community
Young Canada Works for
Aboriginal Urban Youth
Cultural and Canadian identity
 Culturally supportive milieu of Friendship
Centres allow students to gain work
experience while maintaining cultural
roots
 Promotion of cultural distinctiveness and
pride in Canadian identity
 Integration into Canadian society while
maintaining and experiencing cultural
roots
Young Canada Works for
Aboriginal Urban Youth
Community Partnerships and Cross-cultural
Awareness
 Friendship Centres and
Provincial/Territorial Associations develop
partnerships with community
organizations such as;
 Royal Canadian Mounted Police
 YMCA
 Boys and Girls Clubs
 Community Hospitals
Young Canada Works for
Aboriginal Urban Youth
Statistics
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In 2002/2003 there were a total of 325 positions
created
Almost 2/3 of the students employed were female
1/2 were Status Indian
1/3 were Metis
1/2 of projects delivered were focused
specifically on Youth programming
Over 7,400 people participated in some way
across Canada
Young Canada Works for
Aboriginal Urban Youth
Best Practices
 Annual Multi-Cultural Youth Gathering,
Labrador Friendship Centre, Happy ValleyGoose Bay, Labrador-Newfoundland
 Presentations by motivational speakers,
native games, sports, traditional crafts
and food
 Participation of all Aboriginal groups in
the area and people from other diverse
backgrounds
Young Canada Works for
Aboriginal Urban Youth
Best Practices
 Sizzling Summer Day Camp, Interior
Indian Friendship Society, Kamloops,
British Columbia
 Activities for community children aged 612
 Activities include sports, crafts, mask
making, sculpture, tours and games
Young Canada Works for
Aboriginal Urban Youth
Lessons Learned
 Development of NAFC Program
Administration practices
 Employment and involvement help keep
Aboriginal youth in the Friendship Centre
Movement
 Develop Leadership skills
 Stable program funding is essential to the
development of long-term program
planning in communities
Young Canada Works for
Aboriginal Urban Youth
Success Stories
 Zandra Wycotte
National Association of
Friendship Centres
Young Canada Works for Aboriginal
Urban Youth
FOR MORE INFO...
Visit the National Association of Friendship Centres website at
www.nafc-aboriginal.com or email [email protected]